Mediated pleiotropy drives the negative correlation of total carotenoid and dry matter contents in cassava (Manihot esculenta).

ABSTRACT: Plant breeders aim to increase provitamin A carotenoids in cassava (Manihot esculenta) storage roots to help combat vitamin A deficiency in sub-Saharan Africa, but a negative genetic correlation between total carotenoid and dry matter contents hinders progress. While genetic linkage between a major-effect variant in the phytoene synthase 2 (PSY2) gene and nearby candidate gene(s) has been thought to drive this correlation, molecular evidence suggests there may be a metabolic relationship between total carotenoid and dry matter, implying genome-wide pleiotropic effects. Bivariate genome-wide associations were used to examine the genetic architecture of the negative covariance between traits and test for pleiotropy. A population of 378 accessions in the yellow-fleshed cassava breeding progra

SUBMITTER: Villwock SS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12505300 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature